Veterans Club of America, Post #1 in Fort Myers, joined forces with three local charter schools (Palm Acres Charter High School, City of Palms Charter High School & Northern Palms Charter High School) to collect and sign Christmas cards to send to the United States Troops serving overseas this holiday season.

Last year it was our first time and we collected 742 cards. This year the three schools along with the VCA Post #1 on San Carlos Blvd near the beach have revved it up trifold and we have collected over 2,200-holiday cards that will be sent over to the various military groups with season greetings and thank you for your courageous spirit in fighting for our freedom.

“As a teacher and Air Force Veteran myself, I am very proud of my students and my members for all the hard work that we have accomplished”, said Robin Perkins

The Christmas spirit is alive and well at Next Level Church (NLC) in Southwest Florida. To celebrate the holiday season and give back to the local community, the church is hosting its first annual “Toys for Hope” Christmas Mall. Leaders and members of the church are united in their mission to bring a “Moment of Hope” to local families and to spread their core value of “Live to Give.”

Throughout the month of December, NLC has been collecting new, unwrapped toys ranging in value from $10 to $20. These toys will be sorted and used to create a Christmas Mall at two locations, the church’s Fort Myers Dream Center and the Lehigh Boys and Girls Club. Parents will then have the opportunity to purchase the toys for $1 each at one of the Christmas Mall locations on December 16. NLC believes that this will give hope to families this Christmas while making the parents the heroes of the story.

The Team called Peanutters, there are three, three-member teams that travel the U.S. in the Nutmobile. The average peanut is just over an inch long and contains two seeds, meaning the Nutmobile is more than 312 times as large.

They are on a year-long tour representing Planters Peanuts in a 26-foot-long, 11.5-foot tall Nutmobile from Maine to Miami.

The Peanutters helped pass out packs of peanuts, organized hopscotch games and sprouted peanut facts.

A Lee County sheriff’s office aide is accused of making a false arrest and coercing the detainee to perform oral sex on him.

Ivan De Jesus Moreno was arrested overnight, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said early Friday. His age, address, and mugshot weren’t immediately made public.

Aides follow up on investigations and respond to non-violent crimes, according to a job description posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page. The service calls they go out on don’t require the power of arrest.

They aren’t considered law enforcement officers. Moreno is accused of impersonating one during the encounter.

“This kind of behavior is deplorable and we will not tolerate it in our community and certainly not from a member of our agency, He betrayed the community’s trust, this offices’ trust and we will not stand for it, We will enforce the laws across the board and continue to seek justice for the victim, “Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott wrote in an emailed statement.

Moreno is also facing charges of impersonating a law enforcement officers, false imprisonment, and battery.

He could be facing a judge for a first appearance hearing as early as this morning.

After running the first story 12/1/2017, we checked again today 12/7/2017 and six of the seven are still delinquent in paying their restaurant license.

The law states each public lodging establishment and public food service establishment shall obtain a license from the division. Such license may not be transferred from one place or individual to another. It shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for such an establishment, to operate without a license.

The following restaurants are delinquent and do not have a current operating license to serve food in Lehigh Acres.

Another outstanding week of high school hoops is in store for the 45th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic scheduled for Monday, Dec. 18 – Saturday, Dec. 23 at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the Fort Myers campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.

USA Today recently revealed the American Family Insurance All-USA preseason boys’ basketball team, and three of the top players on the team will be taking to the hardwood in Fort Myers, including the only junior on the team, Vernon Carey, Jr. from University School in Fort Lauderdale.

Carey, a 6’ 9” center, comes into this season having averaged 22 points and eight rebounds per game during his sophomore campaign. Carey also led the USA Men’s U16 National Team that captured the gold medal last summer with a perfect 5-0 record at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship. Carey was named MVP of the tournament.

Moses Brown, another big man at 6’ 11”, is on the All-USA team and will lead his Archbishop Molloy (Queens, N.Y.) team to Southwest Florida for the first time. Brown averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds last season and is being recruited by several schools including Kentucky, Maryland, UCLA, and FSU.

Perennial national powerhouse Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) is led by All-USA team player Jahvon Quinerly, a 6’ 1” point guard who was first team all-state in 2016-17. Quinerly lead the Hawks with 20 points, three rebounds, and five assists last season.

Tickets for the tournament are now on sale. Several ticket options are available, including: (more…)

On December 16, 2017, Lighthouse of SWFL and its Transition Teen Program will host “A Night with the Stars” prom open to teens with blindness and vision impairment living in Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, Collier, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. The free event will be held at Lighthouse of SWFL 35 W. Mariana Ave. N. Fort Myers, FL 33903 and available for teens between the ages of 14 and 22 with blindness or vision impairment and one guest. Reservations are a must and may be made by calling (239) 997-7797.

The “Hollywood” themed idea, complete with a red carpet and paparazzi, was an immediate hit with the visually-impaired students, who will be receiving the royal treatment that evening. “Planning the event and finding ways to make the students feel important has been half the fun!” said Jeremy Rosauer, chair of the Prom Committee and a member of the 4-H Trail Blazers club, a youth leadership club which volunteers for service projects at the Lighthouse. Rosauer continued, “We are working to make the prom experience special and inclusive for every youth, from the food to the photography, decorations, and even the dancing.”

Transition teens from Lighthouse of SWFL have been practicing their dancing skills with the 4-H kids, to help them learn how to dance with a student who has blindness or uses a wheelchair. “Dancing, like music or kindness, is a universal language,” said Amy Turner, Community Relations Coordinator at Lighthouse of SWFL and 4-H leader, “Providing an opportunity for youth to connect, have fun and accept one another is the heart of this community event.”

Fire Commissioner Linda Carter brought forward a proposal at the last board meeting for a salary change for the commissioners. Currently, the board receives a $250 monthly stipend compared to the $500 statutory maximum.

“They agreed to move the vote forward to their next meeting, which would allow them to notify the general public of the increase, as per the legal statue,” Dilallo said.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District board will hold its next regular meeting on Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. at Station 104, at 3102 16th St. S.W.

I responded to a shooting at Michigan Road and Leeland Heights Boulevard in Lehigh, Florida. Upon arrival, contact was made with Amanda Barrett and Jemzee Barrett at 29 Michigan Road. Amanda Barrett advised she drove over to residence with 3 juvenile children with Armando Faith. A verbal argument started and became upset and Anthonie Price Barrett threatened Armando Faith with a brick. Armando Faith was armed with a handgun and shot Anthonie Price Barrett at this location in his own driveway.

Anthonie Barrett was transported to the hospital by an unknown passing motorist with a gunshot wound to the chest area. Armando Faith was detained and a 9mm gun was recovered. Amanda Barrett and Jemzee Barrett were separated and Sgt Smith was notified.

The thought of another active brush fire season looms over Lehigh Acres because of Hurricane Trma.

A concern is growing over brush fires because of what Irma left behind. The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to clear lawns of debris and dead brush to tamp down the risk — one that could be elevated this winter.

We’re expecting drier and warmer weather (than normal), so that can be an issue with hurricane debris down, said in an email from the Florida Forestry Service.

Florida’s year-round risk of wildfire is a problem that cannot be handled with one simple program. We have established several program areas addressing the wildfire issues in the state. The first is our Fire Prevention Program. Smokey Bear remains an active part of our overall prevention message, but our work goes beyond Smokey.

Special to the Lehigh Acres Gazette Source: Lee County School District

Every year, the Lee County School District names a Teacher of the Year.

According to school officials, naming the recipient is a difficult task because only one of the many devoted and dedicated teachers across the district can be chosen. This year’s seven finalists truly embody the district’s vision of being a world-class school system through their work in our schools each day.

After receiving multiple anonymous tips, detectives have identified Samantha Beausoleil (DOB 12/13/83) as the suspect in last week’s baby formula theft. Beausoleil is also wanted in connection with a series of other thefts that have occurred over the last few months at the Home Depot on NE Pine Island Road.

Beausoleil has two previous arrests in Lee County. She was arrested in 2016 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and most recently in October for grand theft in Lehigh Acres.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Beausoleil is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.

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Bessie Collins Jerabek , I'm so excited to find the Lehigh Acres Gazette here on Facebook. Its a great way to keep up with our community events.

Tom Scott, Thanks to the Lehigh Acres Gazette for continuing to cover and promote the positive activities of our area's students. It makes me even more proud to represent District 5 and Lehigh Acres!
Tom Scott Chairman, Lee County School Board